I’ve always loved baking, but was more focused on the occasional cakes and desserts. Once I became more aware of what was in processed foods, I had shifted almost entirely to cooking from scratch. Except for bread – it seemed like such a time suck. Boy was I wrong! Not only do I get to bake – which I love – but we get simple ingredient delicious bread straight from the oven. Since a lot of the time spent on bread is letting it rest, it’s also a simple one to do with kids around. Give this one a try and I’m sure you’ll be hooked too!
xoxo
Alison
Ingredients
- 2 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast (make sure you don’t use ‘Rapid Rise’)
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 1 1/4 cups warm water (about 100 degrees F should do)
- 1 1/2 tsp. fresh rosemary
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 2 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
Directions
- Combine yeast, sugar, and warm water (try for around 100 degrees F – if you go to hot you’ll kill the yeast) in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook or in a regular mixing bowl.
- Let the yeast proof for about 5 minutes. After that time the mixture should be a bit frothy and have the distinct ‘yeast smell’.
- Add salt, garlic and rosemary to the mixture.
- Add the flour a little bit at a time until all flour is incorporated and forms a soft dough.
- Coat the outside of the dough with flour, cover with a tea towel and let rise on the counter for about an hour (or until it doubles in size).
- Do not flatten, or punch down dough. Move to cooking surface (I like to use my Le Creuset dutch oven) and shape into a round loaf.
- Cover with a tea towel and let rise another 30 minutes or so.
- Heat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place lid on your dutch oven and cook for 30 minutes.
- Remove lid and cook for another 10 minutes (skip this step if you prefer your bread a bit less crusty)
- Enjoy!
